792 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
223
*** Creation of Central Technical Power Board**
- Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state :
(a) whether Government have any plans for the creation of a Central Technical Power Board;
(b) whether it is a fact that the Chairmanship of this Board has been offered to a former employee of the British Firm of Messrs. Merz and Melellan and that one of the two seals on the Board has been filled by an American Engineer;
(c) whether his attention has been drawn to reports that Government are considering the appointment of Messrs. Merz and Melellan, and the American Bond and Share Company as consulting engineers; and, if so, whether they are true.
(d) whether these two American and British firms, respectively, have acquired any interest in the erection or operation of electrical undertakings in India so far, and what they are;
(e) whether it is a fact that a Committee of leading Power Engineers appointed by Government early this year have reported that India would require electrical plant to the value of Rs. 400 crores, and that Government have accepted this recommendation; and
(f) whether Government would publish full details of the recommendations of the above-mentioned Committee ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.
(b) Yes, but in the case of the former he has for the last three years and nine months been in the service of the Government of India as Electrical Commissioner.
(c) Government have seen certain press reports to this effect but they are not correct as they have not yet taken into consideration the question of appointing consulting engineers.
(d) In so far as Messrs. Merz and Melellan are concerned, the reply is in the negative. Government, however, understand that the Electric Bond and Share Company of U.S.A. (and not the American Bond and Share Company) which is a holding company has substantial interest in the Tata Hydro Electric Agencies and the United Eastern Agencies
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1944, 7th November 1944, pp.
325-26.